Alcoholism is a chronic disease that happens gradually over time. It causes a person to crave and drink alcohol despite the problems he might experience because of it, such as losing his job or relationship, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. While alcoholism is a physical dependence, other factors contribute to this disease as well, including genetics and psychological problems.
Physical Dependency
The more often a person drinks, the more likely her chances of becoming an alcoholic. AlcoholismSupport.com states that one cause of alcoholism is frequency, as drinking regularly over an extended period of time can result in physical dependency. The website adds that 15 drinks per week for men and 12 drinks per week for women are within safe limits; anything beyond this can pose a problem.
Gender
Men have a greater risk of becoming alcoholics than women, according to Learn-About-Alcoholism.com. The site explains gender is one possible cause, adding that it usually takes more drinks per week before the addiction develops. Men who consume more than 15 drinks a week are moving into the danger zone, notes the Learn About Alcoholism website.
DNA
Learn-About-Alcoholism.com explains that approximately 50 percent of all cases of alcoholism result from genetics. One of the major causes of this disease is tolerance, and if a family member has a high tolerance for alcohol, other family members may too. Over time, tolerance leads to indulgence. It is not only genetics that are to blame---environmental and psychological causes combined with genetics can increase a person's likelihood of developing this disease.
Psychological Makeup
Psychological conditions such as depression and low self-esteem can cause alcoholism in a person with these conditions, according to Alcoholism Support. An individual with anxiety issues is more likely to develop a drinking problem as she attempts to fit in with certain people. If a person is battling depression, he may turn to alcohol as a means of numbing the pain and loneliness that the illness causes.
Society
Society plays a large role in the development of alcoholism. It is prevalent in American culture and is everywhere a person looks, such as TV, the Internet, magazines, newspapers and radio advertisements. Because of its cultural acceptance, it can be difficult to identify the signs of this disease. Learn-About-Alcoholism.com notes that people often glorify alcohol, seeing it as a way to improve relationships and further their positions at work. However, the downside of social drinking is that full-blown alcoholism might develop.
